Bellmore-Merrick Girls Swim Team Named Division Champs

BELLMORE-MERRICK, NY — The Bellmore-Merrick District Swim and Dive Team won the Division B championships on April 14.

"This is the 10th title the Sharks have taken home in the last 12 years,” said coach Rob Kaefer. “The division championships started with diving on Monday night, where Izzy Wilkins placed second, earning All-Division honors.”

During the swim events, the Sharks started the night with a third-place finish in the medley relay. The relay, consisting of Stephania Calin, Mary McDonald, Caitlin Elsasser and Eva Canning, earned All-Division honors with a third-place finish.

The Sharks saw many other All-Division swims, including individual swims by Ronnie Gelfand (200 and 500 freestyle), Brooke Armstrong (50 and 100 freestyle) and Riley Fried (200 Individual Medley).

“The Sharks also won the 200-yard freestyle relay with Fried, Armstrong, Rachel Meleady-Breslin and Gelfand, which finished the night and thereby locking in the win,” added Kaefer. “We also had a first-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay with Gelfand, Armstrong, Diana DiToro and Fried.”

Members of both relays earned All-Division status. The Sharks scored a total of 615 points finishing ahead of second-place Syosset by 21 points. Kaefer said other important contributing swimmers, “without which this win would not have been possible,” included Riley Peckman, Isa Cespedes, Ranit Davidoff, Aubree Wessel, Olivia Trinkus, Brianna Goodman, Zoe Gleicher, Amanda O'Brien, Kelsey Walsh and Karli Ozkumru.

The Lady Sharks faced multiple obstacles this shortened season, including access to pool training and lane usage restrictions due to the pandemic and quarantined student-athletes.

“We had less lane space available to us, making it difficult for all athletes to get the quality workouts to which they are accustomed,” Kaefer said. “Yet the girls still managed to have another successful season.”

The Sharks will compete in the county championships next week at the Nassau County Aquatic Center.